Tag Archive: centrifugal clutches

This Friday, April 22nd is the 46th celebration of Earth Day. It was started in 1970 as a demonstration for a healthy and sustainable environment and has led to environmental awareness and public policies. Today, being ‘green’ is understood by everyone to mean that you, or your products, work toward protecting the natural resources of the planet.

At BLM, we’ve been green for a long time. Earth Day doesn’t come just once a year for us—we understand the importance of green solutions. Our distinctive blue centrifugal clutches are energy efficient and offer many other green benefits giving manufacturers and industries an easy choice to make when considering their carbon footprint.

The outstanding performance of BLM’s centrifugal clutches is made better by helping to make a more sustainable future. Using a properly sized clutch cuts down on problems and uses less energy. More details on the benefits of energy-efficient BLM centrifugal clutches can be found in a previous post and on our website.

Recent news and financial reports are predicting brighter days, increasing business opportunities and some good times ahead for the gold mining industry. Last week a LiveTradingNews.com report said, “Gold mining may have advanced a huge 64.5% and is currently just 8.55% away from a new 52-week high. After a brutal bear market that began back in August 2011, it looks like the precious metal miners have turned the corner and may be entering a multi-year bull market.”

Another recent report says, “Gold prices have soared nearly 20% so far this year… while silver and palladium rallied 12% and 10%, respectively. These precious metals have outperformed nearly every other commodity.” Just like we’ve been doing for many decades, BLM Automatic will continue to help miners in the days ahead – in what’s anticipated to be the new golden era for the gold mining industry. The anticipation of a bullish gold market and a new golden era for gold and precious metals is great news for the gold mining industry. It means there will be more demand for gold, and more extraction, separation and refining going on.

BLM Automatic centrifugal clutches keep gold mining operations running smoothly, and it’s something we’ve been doing for many years. As the gold market gets more bullish and continues to charge ahead to a new golden era, BLM Automatic will continue to be ready to help gold miners through every phase of the mining process: from the initial extraction, to the crushing by ball crushers and pulverizing mills, through all the handling of the gold to the refinement phases, and to the packaging and distribution at the end of it all.

Not just for gold mining, BLM Automatic clutches are used in every processing phase of the mining industries. They’re also used in any industry where raw materials are conveyed, and where material handling is involved. For many years, many different types of industries, including precious metal mining industries, have relied on BLM Automatic to provide the highest quality centrifugal clutches. We design and manufacture many types of centrifugal clutches for a wide variety of applications, from the “big stuff” like military and defense applications, to smaller applications like clutches used in mixers in chemical labs — and a lot of medium-sized applications in between! BLM automatic clutches are used in the agriculture, construction, and packaging industries, and the list of industries goes on and on… While we don’t like to brag, we must point out that our clutches are considered the “gold standard” in all industries – not just mining!

BLM Automatic clutches are energy efficient, can be customized for specific industrial applications, and they are easy to maintain. Our centrifugal clutches also make it easy for our clients in the mining industries to take advantage of the golden opportunities anticipated for the days ahead… At BLM Automatic, we are ready to continue to meet the demands – and to continue to exceed our clients’ expectations – in a new golden era in the gold mining industry! To learn more about BLM Automatic, visit our website, or call us at 800-268-4295.

In our December blog post we explained how centrifugal clutches worked and why they are valuable components in industrial equipment. In this month’s post we are discussing how a centrifugal clutch can solve problems that may be stumping even the most experienced maintenance team.

In the course of a day, there are many practical problems that occur to slow down, stop, or damage mechanical equipment and as many practical solutions to remedy those problems. As we have experienced, many problems could be solved by using a properly sized centrifugal clutch.

A BLM clutch provides the following solutions to solve or eliminate common equipment problems (listed in boldface type) associated with these conditions:

Cuts the duration of high amperage draw when motor is starting to less than one second.

Overheating motors when starting is prevented by providing the equivalent of a no-load start.

Using oversized motors for starting, which can cause shock loads and bad power factor, are not necessary since the clutch enables using a motor with a capacity closer to the running load.

No need to use reduced voltage starters since simple across-the-line starters can be used with a clutch.

Starting shock, a condition that causes damage to moving parts and is a major cause of equipment maintenance, is not an issue with a BLM clutch since soft starts increase the life of components such as belts and gears.

Fragile materials (wires, thread, paper) are often subject to breakage as the result of stating shock; the gentile, low torque starting of a clutch eliminates breakage and downtime.

Difficulty of starting heavy loads is problematic but a clutch selected for cushioned, high torque starts can easily handle heavy loads.

Motor burnout because of overloads won’t occur with a clutch that slips before the motor is damaged.

High overload torque capacity of the motor causes overload damage. A properly selected clutch slips under the overload at a torque level lower than the motor capacity.

Sudden overloads that cause damage due to the flywheel effect of the motor rotor are eliminated because the clutch will slip when a jam-up occurs to protect against damage to the motor.

BLM has the experience and expertise to engineer custom centrifugal clutches that will solve the most challenging equipment problems. If you are experiencing any of the above problems, you will see immediate improvement after installing a centrifugal clutch from BLM.

Contact us to speak with an expert at solving difficult mechanical problems!

BLM designs and manufactures centrifugal clutches for a wide variety of small and large applications. They are integral components in machinery in almost every industry and the benefits of using a centrifugal clutch are many. This important component is ideal for starting po wer equipment safely and effectively.

How a centrifugal clutch operates

The main purpose of a centrifugal clutch is to connect the power source (engine, motor, turbine, etc.) to the load that is accelerated. It uses centrifugal force to turn the drive shaft and acts as a transmission activated by the increasing rpm of the engine. It uses centrifugal force to turn the drive shaft and basically acts as a transmission that is activated by the increasing rpm of the engine. Sizing the clutch to the running requirements of the load, and not the horsepower capacity of the motor, allows the motor to develop maximum torque and offers the advantage of using a smaller motor and gear reducer.

Utilizing a centrifugal clutch allows maximum torque with minimum current draw. This is the most efficient condition for accelerating the load as the clutch does the slipping and heat dissipation, preventing the motor from absorbing and becoming damaged by the heat. Clutches can be adjusted for capacity by varying the weight of the internal operating mechanism enabling a wide range within each clutch size.

Why choose a centrifugal clutch

When the clutch is properly selected it will eliminate shock loading of the power train,
enable smooth acceleration, and provide overload protection to the motor and machinery if an overload situation should occur. BLM clutches are designed to:

Automatically engage and disengage

Enable motor start without load

Allow smooth acceleration without shock

Permit smaller motor use

Slip in overload conditions

Eliminate the need for starting equipment

Save energy when starting up

Centrifugal clutches are widely used in machinery throughout industry, including mining, manufacturing, and the military, to protect motors from damaging conditions and to keep machinery running at optimal levels.

BLM’s centrifugal clutches are available in a wide range of sizes with custom solutions available for any application. To learn more about these products, please contact BLM today or visit our website.

Size matters when you’re designing and manufacturing centrifugal clutches! We know this from our experience working with our customers who have come to use from many different industries throughout the years. If you’re not already familiar with BLM Automatic Clutch, we’re a family owned company, which designs and manufactures centrifugal clutches.

Whenever we’re designing and manufacturing centrifugal clutches for our customers, we rely on our customers to provide us with accurate information and specifications. We work closely with each customer to learn about any special or unique requirements for the clutches. Fully understanding their operations is critical in determining the right size centrifugal clutch within each specific application.

When it comes to the speed and the horsepower RPM, this information also must be accurate. If the information about the speed and horsepower is incorrect, the clutch may only partially engage but will still try to drive a full load on partial engagement resulting in clutch failure. Another possible scenario is that the running speeds are inaccurate and the clutch blows up.

Determining how many belts on a pulley application and the number of horsepower transmitted by each belt is necessary. Sometimes horsepower transmitted by manufacturer supplied equipment is insufficient to maximize the engine capacity, this results in an oversell of the size of the engine. The solution is to have more belts or a smaller engine.

Ultimately, the correct clutch size is critical for the overall performance and the longevity of a centrifugal clutch. Also having the correct clutch size can prevent damage or malfunction and costly downtime. To prevent any of these scenarios from happening we encourage our customers to share with us all accurate information and run each clutch within its intended application parameters.

We’d be happy to tell you more about why it’s so critical for manufacturers of centrifugal clutched to get accurate specifications and information from the end users of the centrifugal clutches. Reach out to us at any time with any questions you may have.

American manufacturing industry continues to see an incredible comeback. Unfortunately, there continues to be a skilled labor shortage.

Back in 2013, it was reported that up to 600,000 manufacturing jobs were unfilled, and according to Forbes Business, “the skills gap is likely to become more acute.” These predictions proved correct.

Of course one way to combat this is through encouraging STEM education and careers, and promoting manufacturing as a career path for young Americans.

Another way of addressing the issue is by investing in better technology and innovation—processes and tools that move from manpower to machine power, meeting capacity and output demands through better equipment.

At BLM, we have certainly noticed that it’s been increasingly difficult to find qualified people to hire. As a result, we’ve responded accordingly and have invested in two new CNC machines. These state-of-the-art machines by DMC America feature the latest technology and work with the most advanced software to achieve more capacity and accuracy in a shorter period.

These new CNC machines can allow us to meet all of our clients’ needs while putting our manpower in other areas. Our employees can better focus on their individual tasks while our CNC machines can quickly and efficiently get quality work done. In this way, everyone benefits.

At BLM Automatic Clutch, we are committed to providing our customers with the very best quality clutches in the fastest, most economical way possible. By investing in new technology, we are continuing this commitment and ensuring our reputation for success is never compromised.

As the spring season comes into full effect, with summer not far behind, we’ll all be enjoying the warmth of the season, and the universal ways Americans celebrate it. So as you’re biting into that first sweet corn of the barbecue season, enjoying a fresh spring salad, or making a sweet berry pie take a moment to think about the country’s hard working farmers who make it all possible.

For instance: for every one farmer in the U.S., 144 people eat. No matter the weather every farmer works tirelessly each day to bring food to our tables. At the same time, the entire agricultural industry works to support our economy and keep America growing.
As the industry and its individual members work so hard this season and throughout the year, we at BLM support them and do our part to make their jobs easier.

That’s because our centrifugal clutches are relied upon in countless agricultural applications, keeping machinery running smoothly with minimal maintenance and downtime. You’ll find our clutches used on pumps and sprayers to provide irrigation to farmers’ fields. Our clutches are also used on sprayers to deliver nutrients and pest control to farm crops. Arborists use chippers to recycle pruned branches when pruning fruit and nut orchards.

They help power the sprayers that keep farms hydrated—at the beginning of the planting lifecycle—and later on power the combined equipment that harvests crops.

The nature of our centrifugal clutches means starting and maneuvering the machinery is easier and energy is saved in the process. Therefore operating farm equipment outfitted with BLM clutches is easy and cost effective.

The agricultural industry around the world is growing; more demand is leading to increased opportunity. This is a good thing, but it also means farmers will have to meet even greater needs while remaining exceptionally efficient. They will be relying on machinery to help ease the burden, and at BLM, we’re confident our clutches can do just that. We’ve proudly been behind these unsung American heroes, and we’ll continue to be, for generations to come.

Recently, we’ve been hearing about a theoretical pumping solution that has been getting nationwide attention. It has a lot of people asking, “Could this really work?”

It’s a common sense idea that began from regular folks questioning and hypothesizing: can we take the overabundance of snow in Boston, and transport it to California, a state suffering from a massive drought? At first it sounds like a crazy idea, but it might actually work.

This winter, the Boston area has been pummeled with snow—constant storms dumping record levels of it. Currently, it’s estimated that the amount of snow equates to about 5 billion gallons of water.

At the same time, California is experiencing a terrible drought, and experts say that it would take 11 trillion gallons of water to reverse it. So while the 5 billion gallons of Boston’s snow is only a fraction of the 11 trillion California needs, it’s a start. But is it possible, and if so, how?

It’s been proposed that a pipeline be built from Boston to California, a distance of 2,600 miles (to Los Angeles). Rather than collecting and then dumping the snow into the harbor, the snow would be collected and sent through the pipeline, pumping it cross-country. Of course, this would involve serious amounts of money, but money is already being spent on snow removal, and the California drought is costing countless amounts of money and energy.

So it seems what began almost as a joke—send us your snow!—maybe, just maybe, could work.

It’s unknown if this theory will ever come into existence, but at BLM we know that if a 2,600-mile-long pipeline is built to help save California, our clutches will be strong and powerful enough to make it work.

Consider this scenario: your business is booming, demand is higher than it’s been in years, and everything is on the right track—and then an emergency happens. You’ve been working so hard to get business where it now is, that you’ve forgotten to invest in a backup. You need to get back up and running right away, but your centrifugal clutch has died. Now what?

Unfortunately, it will take time to get a replacement clutch; each one is unique, and the right one for you is not going to be available immediately. You are then sitting there stagnant, and depending on a variety of factors, your wait time could be up to eight weeks.

Why Preventative Maintenance Matters

In any environment, from pumping to water treatment and mining, this scenario can happen, and planning ahead could have prevented it. Preventative maintenance assures both immediate and long-term savings, greater efficiency, significant time savings, and overall plant safety. It makes all the difference.

Preventative Maintenance and Centrifugal Clutches

In order to prevent the aforementioned scenario, there are steps you can take. First, make an overall assessment of your business now that it’s picking up, and decide how essential that clutch is to your functioning. If it’s critical to your business, now is the time to order a backup clutch.

Also, determine if your current clutch might be on its way out. Check the number of hours it’s been in use; while there’s no set number that’s too much, and it differs by clutch and by application, you can assess the wear on the clutch and the environment in which it’s been used. For example, something that’s been on standby may last ten years, while something in use every day will have a lot more wear and could need to be replaced much sooner.

Always err on the side of caution, and when in doubt, contact us and tell us about your clutch and your needs. We can help you determine whether or not it needs to be refurbished or replaced.

Why a Backup Makes All the Difference

No matter the state of your clutch or your particular application, failure can occur. In that event, no backup means no work. It means loss of time and money. Simply having a backup clutch provides the assurance and guarantee that in the event of an emergency, you’re okay.

Need advice or assistance, or want help choosing the right centrifugal clutch for your needs? Feel free to contact us anytime.

If you follow the latest news and trends in American manufacturing, then you likely know that the industry is in the midst of a major recovery. Production and overall competitiveness in manufacturing is at levels not seen in many years, which is good news for business owners, manufacturing workers, and the country in general.

What this also means is that the economy is improving, and as this continues, along with more production, the demand for industrial machinery is expected to increase significantly. In fact, according to a recent report from IHS Technology, demand for manufacturing machines is expected to grow over 6%—more than twice the increase seen in 2013—and revenues are expected to reach $1.6 trillion this year.*

Furthermore, this rising demand for machinery and technology will result in a demand for mining tools and equipment. In fact, within the mining industry, experts predict that the global demand for mining machinery will grow 8.6% between now and 2017, reaching $135 billion.**

Steel and aluminum production, along with developments of other mining opportunities and growth in agriculture and construction, will push this demand throughout the world, with “voracious demand for mined materials”** in many developing countries serving as an incredible boost to the mining and mining equipment industries.

What does this mean for us and our customers? As premier manufacturers of the highest quality centrifugal clutches for clients in the mining industry, we see this as great news. Industrial clutches and centrifugal clutches are crucial to the mining industry, as well as to agriculture, construction, and many of the other industries in which machinery demand is expected to grow, and this means our clients will continue to see a demand for their products, and more need for ours.

All of our clutches ensure ease of maintenance, start loads efficiently (making them energy efficient), and can be customized for specific applications. This means that as your needs increase, you can be sure you will get the centrifugal clutches you need to meet and exceed your demands and expectations.

As we continue to see a rise in mining and industrial equipment requirements, we will look forward to making sure we do our part to keep this growth and success going strong.